Quaternary ammonium amide and/or ester salts

Abstract

The invention relates to quaternary ammonium amide and/or ester salts and their use as additives, including their use in fuels, such as diesel fuel. The invention particularly relates to the use of quaternary ammonium amide and/or ester salts as detergents in diesel fuels.

We claim: 
     
       1. A composition comprising a quaternary ammonium salt detergent containing an ester group, where the quaternized detergent comprises the reaction product of:
 (a) the product of a hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and at least one of N,N-dimethylaminopropanol, N,N-diethylaminopropanol, N,N-diethylaminobutanol, 1-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperidine, 2-[2-(dimethylamine)ethoxy]-ethanol, 2-dimethylamino-2-methyl-1-propanol, or combinations thereof; and 
 (b) a quaternizing agent comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, styrene oxide, or combinations thereof; and 
 
       wherein a protic solvent is present during the reaction of (a) and (b) and wherein the reaction of (a) and (b) is essentially free of any additional acid component other than an acid group present in the structure of the detergent. 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the protic solvent comprises water and/or a linear or branched alcohol containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a polyolefin and a α,β-monounsaturated C 4  to C 10  anhydride. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises polyisobutylene succinic anhydride. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the quaternized detergent comprises the product of a hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and at least one of 1-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperidine, 2-[2-(dimethylamine)ethoxy]-ethanol, 2-dimethylamino-2-methyl-1-propanol, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. A fuel composition comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       7. The fuel composition of  claim 6 , wherein said fuel composition is a liquid at ambient and/or operating conditions. 
     
     
       8. The fuel composition of  claim 6 , wherein said fuel composition is a hydrocarbon fuel, a non-hydrocarbon fuel, or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       9. The fuel composition of  claim 6 , wherein said fuel composition is a gasoline or a diesel fuel. 
     
     
       10. The fuel composition of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more fuel additives other than the quaternary ammonium salt detergent. 
     
     
       11. A method of operating an internal combustion engine or open flame burner comprising supplying to the engine or burner the fuel composition of  claim 6 .